What is 'grave matter'?

[Ziggamafu]

the whole “grave matter” thing seems to be so subjective…i don’t think that there has ever been an official declaration that the 10 commandments suffice…so is there a list of “grave matters”?

thanks for all the help you constantly give and all the blessings that come through it!

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1858) includes a definition of grave matter:

Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments, corresponding to the answer of Jesus to the rich young man: “Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and your mother.” The gravity of sins is more or less great: murder is graver than theft. One must also take into account who is wronged: violence against parents is in itself graver than violence against a stranger.